Main menu

Formula One: Team boss is bullish about Red Bull’s new RB8

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner expects plenty of challenges in 2012 as the team tries to make it three consecutive Formula One championships. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is adamant that his team has left nothing to chance in the design and construction of the new RB8, under the leadership of Adrian Newey.

The team launched the car online on Monday as it began its campaign to defend its two Formula One World Championships.

“This year’s car build has gone fantastically well, and I think it’s the epitome of continuity, continuity across all areas,” Horner said. “I think we’ve designed and built this car in a record amount of time, in a ridiculously short amount of time.

“Adrian’s never famous for his drawings being early, but the design team, the production teams, all the associated departments that go into producing these cars, have delivered and delivered in a fantastic way. We’ve hit our target of being at the first test so, despite the snow over the latter part of this week, I think we’re in great shape for the first test.

“The rollout of a new car is always filled with great anticipation; it’s almost like going back to school for a new school year. Of course, you’re keen to see what your rivals are doing [and], of course, they’re looking to protect the secrets of their car also. Pictures are scoured over; we’ll all be looking at what rivals have been doing over the winter. It’s the longest time we spend away from each other, from Brazil to the first race, but we’ll be very much focused on our own performance.”

Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel finished first and Mark Webber third in both the 2010 and 2011 Formula One campaigns.

“We’ll be looking to sign off the first systems checks to make sure the car is performing and working in accordance with how it was designed and get those checks out of the way,” Horner said. “We then get into testing proper, because we have a very short amount of time this year--only three tests that are split with only one car between two drivers. It’s a short amount of time and only offers a few days for each driver, before starting on the grid in Melbourne.”

Horner said that Red Bull’s target for 2012 is clear.

“The team’s goals are quite simple,” he said. “It’s to try and defend both titles in the manner [in which] we achieved them. Of course, when you’ve achieved what we have, particularly in 2011, we’ve set a very high standard for ourselves. But we’re always looking to improve, we’re always looking, in all areas, to try and do better.

“We can’t control what our opponents do, we’re up against some formidable opponents, but we can only really focus on ourselves and only when we get to Melbourne will we truly know where we sit against our rivals.”

Horner conceded that there will be strong competition this season.

“I think on the grid this year we’re going to have six world champions, and McLaren have a strong team. They’ve got strength and depth and two world-class drivers,” he said. “Fernando Alonso, everyone knows his capability, and Ferrari is also a great team.

“We have Kimi Räikkönen coming back as well. Mercedes also look like they’re going to be competitive, so I think Formula One is set for an exciting year. At Red Bull Racing, our goals and objectives are to try and stay ahead of our rivals and build on the success that we have [had] and build on the lessons that we’ve learned in 2011.”